Niger's military rulers kick out Nigerian, US, two other ambassadors  - Newstrends
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Niger’s military rulers kick out Nigerian, US, two other ambassadors 

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Niger’s military rulers kick out Nigerian, US, two others ambassadors 

Niger’s military rulers on Friday gave the French, German, Nigerian and US ambassadors 48 hours to quit the country, amid escalating tension over the threat of military action from the West African bloc ECOWAS to reverse the coup.

The ultimatum against the French envoy was quickly rejected by Paris, which repeated that it did not recognise the military rulers’ authority.

The move by the officers now running the country was the latest escalation in deteriorating relations between the new regime in Niamey and several Western powers, as well as the West African bloc ECOWAS. Nigeria currently holds the presidency of ECOWAS.

Paris has repeatedly backed calls by ECOWAS for the reinstatement of president Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown on July 26.

In separate letters to their respective governments, Niger’s foreign ministry said the French, German, Nigerian and US envoys should leave the country within 48 hours.

Each letter said it was in response to the refusal of the envoys to respond to an invitation from the ministry for a meeting Friday and other actions of their respective governments “contrary to the interests of Niger”.

On Friday evening, the French foreign ministry said: “The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities.”

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France has 1,500 soldiers based in Niger who had been helping Bazoum in the fight against jihadist forces that have been active in the country for years, while the United States has around a thousand military personnel in the country.

– Pressure from ECOWAS –

Earlier Friday, West Africa’s bloc ECOWAS urged Niger’s coup leaders to reconsider their position and pushed for a return to civilian rule, with the threat of force still “very much on the table”.

While the generals who ousted Bazoum have called for a three-year transition period, the Economic Community of West African States demands the immediate return to constitutional order.

With delegations shuttling into Niamey, ECOWAS said negotiations remained its priority as defence chiefs prepared a standby mission for a possible “legitimate use of force” to restore democracy if needed.

“Even now, it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d’etat,” ECOWAS commission president Omar Alieu Touray told reporters in Abuja.

“The real issue is the determination of the community to halt the spiral of coup d’etats in the region.”

ECOWAS has already applied sanctions against Niger to pressure the new regime.

The Niger coup has heightened tensions in the Sahel region, where three other governments have fallen to military rebellions since 2020, and jihadists control swathes of territory.

ECOWAS leaders are already negotiating with military administrations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea who are all working towards transitions to democracy after their own coups.

After initially balking, Niger’s new rulers have said they remain open to negotiations.

But they have sent mixed messages, including a threat to charge Bazoum — who remains detained at the official residence with his family — with treason.

– Aggression –

Niger’s military leaders have also warned against any intervention, accusing ECOWAS of preparing an occupying force in league with an unnamed foreign country.

Niger on Thursday agreed with the regimes in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso to let their troops into its territory in case of an aggression.

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But Touray dismissed plans for ECOWAS “declaring war” or an “invasion” of Niger, insisting the standby mission would be a legitimate force allowed under ECOWAS statutes agreed by members.

“The instruments include the use of force. So it is very much on the table, as are other measures we are working on,” he said.

“If peaceful means fail, ECOWAS cannot just fold its hands.”

ECOWAS has intervened militarily in past crises, including in civil wars. Few details of the new standby force have emerged.

But preparations for any possible use of military force in Niger are risky and already face political resistance in northern Nigeria, a key player in ECOWAS and the region.

Niger’s northern neighbour Algeria has also warned of disastrous consequences for the region from an intervention.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf this week toured West African countries to try to find a solution to a crisis in which Algiers firmly opposes any military option.

“There is a time for everything and we are currently in the time of finding peaceful solutions,” he said on a visit to Benin.

“Let’s put all our imagination into giving every chance to a political solution.”

Niger’s military rulers  kick out Nigerian, US, two others ambassadors 

bur/jj/lcm(AFP)

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Cambodia Denies Ordering African Nationals to Leave

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Mass deportation

Cambodia Denies Ordering African Nationals to Leave

 

PHNOM PENH — A dramatic 24 hours of confusion and panic ended today with the Cambodian government issuing a firm denial regarding reports that it had ordered all African nationals, including citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, to leave the country by May 31, 2026.

 

Earlier this week, a document purporting to be an “official notice” from the General Department of Immigration began circulating widely on social media and international news outlets. The document claimed that a visa waiver for African nationals would expire on May 31, warning that anyone found in the country from June 1 would face immediate arrest, a two-year jail term, and a fine of $8,000.

 

However, in a swift rebuttal on Friday, Cambodian authorities declared the document to be completely fabricated.

 

“Fake News”

 

Ministry of Interior Spokesperson Touch Sokhak categorically dismissed the reports, labeling them as an attempt to deceive the public.

 

“It is fake news fabricated to distort the situation and mislead domestic and international audiences,” Touch Sokhak told Xinhua News Agency.

 

The General Department of Immigration released an official statement clarifying that the information published on those websites is “completely untrue.” Officials confirmed that no such sweeping directive has been issued against African nationals residing in the country.

 

Diplomatic Confirmation

 

The denial from Phnom Penh was immediately corroborated by diplomatic missions representing the affected nations.

 

In Kenya, the ambassador to Thailand (who is also accredited to Cambodia) urged citizens to disregard the notice, stating that it is “not authentic and does not reflect any official position from Cambodian authorities.”

 

Similarly, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, issued a press release confirming that diplomatic engagements had verified the document was “absolutely fake.” The Ministry noted that it is currently facilitating the voluntary evacuation of Ghanaians who wish to leave—a process that was already underway before the false notice surfaced.

 

How the Hoax Spread

 

The original fabricated notice cited senior officials, including Lt. Gen. Som Sopheak and Gen. Sar Sokha, and threatened that police would begin “arresting any foreigner at any hideout.” The sophisticated formatting of the document led several news outlets to initially report the story as fact, causing widespread alarm among African expatriate communities.

 

Authorities have since warned the public to verify immigration information solely through official government channels and diplomatic missions. The Royal Government of Cambodia reiterated that while it strictly enforces immigration laws, the specific threat against African nationals circulating online holds no merit.

 

Cambodia Denies Ordering African Nationals to Leave

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Xenophobia: “South African Men Are Jealous of Us Because We Service Their Women Well in Bed” – Ghanaian Man

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Xenophobia: "South African Men Are Jealous of Us Because We Service Their Women Well in Bed" – Ghanaian Man

Xenophobia: “South African Men Are Jealous of Us Because We Service Their Women Well in Bed” – Ghanaian Man

One of the Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa by the Ghana government following reported xenophobic attacks has made a highly controversial claim about the root cause of tensions between locals and foreign nationals. Speaking after arriving in Ghana, the evacuee alleged that some South African men are jealous of Ghanaians because Ghanaians are reportedly very good in bed .

“The South African men are jealous of us because we service their women well in bed,” he claimed in remarks that have since gone viral across social media platforms . The statement, made as he touched down on Ghanaian soil, has sparked intense debate online, with some questioning the appropriateness of his comments amid a serious diplomatic crisis involving violence, business closures, and forced displacement of African migrants.

The evacuee was among the first batch of approximately 300 Ghanaians who returned to Accra on Wednesday aboard a government-organized repatriation flight . The evacuation followed weeks of escalating anti-immigrant protests and violence in parts of South Africa, which saw foreign nationals—including Ghanaians, Nigerians, Zimbabweans, and others—targeted in mob attacks, business lootings, and intimidation campaigns . Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, personally greeted the returnees at the airport, where patriotic songs were blasted over the speakers . “Wherever Ghanaians are, we will make sure you are protected,” Ablakwa assured the evacuees . The government also promised a re-integration financial package and psycho-social support for those returning home .

The controversial bedroom claim comes amid a deeply troubling wave of xenophobic violence that has swept across parts of South Africa, forcing many African nationals to abandon their businesses, homes, and communities . Viral videos have shown South Africans confronting Ghanaian migrants, accusing them of taking jobs and refusing to “fix their own countries” . In one widely circulated clip, a South African woman told a Ghanaian man: “We don’t want these African people anymore. We’re tired of seeing African migrants moving all over the world and refusing to fix their own countries”.

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Tensions have also spilled into the realm of threats and counter-threats between the two nations. In another viral video, a Ghanaian man warned that if South Africans harm any Ghanaian on a specific date reportedly tied to an ultimatum for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa, Ghanaians would retaliate by targeting MTN operations and South African women allegedly involved in prostitution in Ghana . “On that same day, we are going to protest against South Africa in this country. If they touch one Ghanaian again, we will touch two of them. If they touch three, we will touch four,” the man threatened in the video . He further claimed that many South African women are engaged in prostitution in locations such as Cantoments, near the Togo Embassy, and Lapaz in Accra .

Netizens have reacted sharply to both the evacuee’s comments and the escalating rhetoric. Some dismissed the bedroom claim as inappropriate and distracting from the real issues of xenophobia, unemployment, and structural inequality driving the attacks . Others expressed concern that such statements only fuel further hostility between Africans who should be united. One X user, reacting to the counter-threat video, said: “A lot of our ladies are missing without a trace due to human trafficking syndicates. Please report those ‘engaged in prostitution’ to your police so that they can be returned to SA” . Another user commented on the evacuee’s bedroom remarks: “This is exactly the kind of nonsense that makes us all look bad. People are dying and losing businesses, and this man is talking about bedroom performance”.

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Approximately 800 Ghanaians in total are expected to leave South Africa as Accra continues repatriation efforts . South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy, has long been a destination for both legal and undocumented African workers. However, saddled with an unemployment rate of over 32 percent , the country has seen repeated spurts of xenophobic and anti-migrant protests over the years . The recurring attacks have revived uncomfortable debates across Africa about xenophobia, migration, and the gap between pan-African rhetoric and the realities facing migrants on the continent .

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama strongly condemned the xenophobic attacks and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to Pan-Africanism, stating that “there is no room for xenophobia in Ghana” . Business mogul Ibrahim Mahama also appealed to affected Ghanaians to return home, saying: “I don’t want to be rich in another man’s country” . The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to consider reopening the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria to help with evacuation and provide consular services to affected Ghanaians .

Yet, the evacuee’s bedroom claim has injected an unexpected and bizarre twist into an otherwise grim narrative of violence, displacement, and diplomatic tension. As social media continues to dissect his remarks, many are left wondering whether such statements reflect genuine sentiment, frustration, or simply an attempt at virality amid a national crisis. Some commentators have pointed out that his words, while inflammatory, may also reveal the deep frustration of migrants who feel unfairly targeted after years of building lives and businesses in South Africa .

The Ghana High Commission in South Africa has confirmed that evacuation flights will continue until all willing Ghanaians are repatriated. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has rejected accusations that the country is xenophobic, describing the recent incidents as isolated while reaffirming openness to diplomatic engagement . However, for many returnees like the man who made the controversial bedroom claim, the damage has already been done—and the journey home marks the end of a chapter in South Africa that they may never revisit .

As of the latest updates, the Ghanaian government continues to monitor the situation in South Africa closely, with officials advising all Ghanaian nationals still in the country to exercise extreme caution and register with the High Commission for potential further evacuation . The government has also called on the African Union to take a more active role in addressing the recurring cycle of xenophobic violence against African migrants on the continent .

Xenophobia: “South African Men Are Jealous of Us Because We Service Their Women Well in Bed” – Ghanaian Man

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Mother of 6-Month-Old on the Run After Stabbing Baby Daddy at Work Over Money

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Mother of 6-Month-Old on the Run After Stabbing Baby Daddy at Work Over Money

Mother of 6-Month-Old on the Run After Stabbing Baby Daddy at Work Over Money

South African woman is currently being sought by authorities after allegedly storming her boyfriend’s workplace and stabbing him following a dispute over money in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The shocking incident occurred on Thursday morning on Ireland Street in the Verulam Central Business District, leaving the man bleeding from stab wounds inflicted by his own girlfriend, who is also the mother of his six-month-old son .

According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) , officers were dispatched to the scene and arrived to find the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. The injured man told first responders that the woman arrived at his place of employment and demanded money. When he declined to give her financial assistance, an argument broke out between the couple .

During the heated altercation, the suspect allegedly grabbed a knife from within the store where her boyfriend worked and proceeded to attack him. After stabbing him, she fled the scene on foot before emergency responders arrived . RUSA officers administered initial medical assistance to the victim at the scene .

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The suspect had not been apprehended at the time of reporting, and authorities have launched a search operation to locate her . The relationship between the suspect and the victim is particularly significant, as she is not only his girlfriend but also the mother of his six-month-old son, adding a deeply personal dimension to the violent confrontation .

The incident highlights the dangerous escalation that can occur when domestic disputes over financial matters turn violent. The victim’s refusal to provide money to his partner triggered a chain of events that led to a brutal workplace attack, leaving him hospitalized and the mother of his child facing serious criminal charges once apprehended .

Authorities continue to search for the suspect, who remains at large. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts has been urged to contact local law enforcement . The case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly arguments over money can spiral into life-threatening violence, even in professional workplace settings where such attacks are rarely anticipated.

Mother of 6-Month-Old on the Run After Stabbing Baby Daddy at Work Over Money

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